Landholders are being provided with assistance to help them understand changes to Livestock Health and Pest Authority rates.

A new rating system has been introduced this year as a result of the 2007 Bull rating review commissioned by the NSW Government and many landholders have received their new rates notices.

“Landholders may require more information about how their rates are calculated and we want to assist them with their questions,” Livestock Health and Pest Authorities State Management Council CEO, Steve Orr, said.

The rates landholders pay to their local Livestock Health and Pest Authority allow the authority to fund the services it provides to landholders and contribute to its Statewide biosecurity and pest functions.

“For example, last year our vets carried out more than 10,000 disease investigations across the state,” Mr Orr said.

“Rangers ran around 1200 group control programs to help landholders eradicate wild dogs, rabbits, foxes, pigs and other pests.

“A call centre has been set up and additional information has been added to our website to give ratepayers easy access to information.

“Landholders with queries about their rates notice should not hesitate to phone or visit the website.

“They can also contact their local authority and speak first hand to LHPA staff,” Mr Orr said.

The major change for 2009 as a result of the Bull rating review is that a base charge has been introduced in place of minimum rates for both the general and animal health rate.

“As a result of these changes, some ratepayers will pay less and some will pay more,” Mr Orr said.

“Overall the increase in the amount of rates collected to fund authority activities is in line with the CPI in most authorities.”

Another change this year is the reintroduction of the pest insect levy as a result of the 2008-09 plague locust control campaign.

Mr Orr said the collection of this levy was a requirement of the NSW Government and these funds go directly to the NSW Department of Primary Industries Pest Insect Destruction Fund.

“This is over and above the amount of $28 million being collected through rates to fund LHPA activities,” Mr Orr said.

Mr Orr urged landholders to take time to look at the information on their rates notices and if they had any queries to make contact.

Livestock Health and Pest Authorities replaced Rural Lands Protection Boards (RLPBs) on  January 1.

Former RLPB offices across NSW have remained open as offices of the new local authorities.

Contact LHPA, (02) 6391 3242, visit www.lhpa.org.au/rates or contact your local authority.